Not seen it posted elsewhere. Really worrying for me. Cant say how highly i rate Jelavic, his attitude more than anything to wanting to score and battle for the team. I'm very cynical about players these days but Nikica I enjoy watching more than any other player probably since big Billy. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...vic-10-games/story-26127282-detail/story.html NIKICA Jelavic's knee injury will need to be 'managed' through the last ten games of the season if he is to fire Hull City to Premier League safety. That's the view of Tigers boss Steve Bruce, who has wrapped his striker in cotton wool following his return from surgery to remove meniscus in his knee at the end of November. Since then, the 29-year-old has fired in four goals to take his seasonal tally to eight and become City's all-time leading scorer in the top flight. However, the Croatian is continuing to see the joint swell up after games and, having been rested for last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke, he was substituted four minutes before Sunderland's equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium. Bruce is fully aware of Jelavic's importance to the Tigers attack, especially after forming a useful partnership with new-boy Dame N'Doye, and is continuing to keep a close eye on his fitness. He said: "Unfortunately, for him and for us, there's times when all of a sudden he'll wake up and his knee is twice the size. "Then we have to get the swelling down and give him time off it to recover. "He needs to stay off it and let nature take its course and therein lies the problem. "It's going to be one of those situations between now and the end of the season where he can't have a complete rest and the six or eight weeks it probably needs. "Eventually, it'll be fine. Unfortunately, it just keeps flaring up now and again."
Does managed mean start one game in two? Only target those games where we stand a good chance of winning. Sit on the bench? Start but only play 60 minutes? Play it by ear? Or what? Whichever way, I would suggest it's time for Hernandez to step up to the plate.
Edit: Response to Chazz's O/P Agreed - he reminds me of how Chris Chilton worked on the park. Gives his all & never ever gives up. My cynicism would be with management in this situation...even though Jelavic will be gagging to play every minute of every game, probably even to the point of hiding any pain he has from Bruce, the doctors, physios etc., I'd be concerned that the lad could end his career if this injury is not handled with the greatest of care. The stakes are very high for both the club and unfortunately the player himself.
Our physios must be rubbish. I have a similar problem, only higher up. A quick rub and removal of the excess fluid and I'm good to go.
Agree with you Chazz. We look so much better with him in the team. When he doesn't play we're ****, and when he's subbed off we turn to ****.
My concern is that he's simply allowed to rest it only during the close season, and then for it to flare up again at the start of next season. Surely if it's not right then he needs another operation, and it should be done as soon as we are safe from relegation so the close season can be used as proper healing time.
